Pima County Death Certificates

Death records for Pima County residents can be obtained through the county's Vital Records office, which operates two service locations in the Tucson area. The Abrams Public Health Center on South Country Club Road and the Northwest Service Center on West Miracle Mile both issue certified death certificates for deaths that occurred anywhere in Arizona. Same day service is often available when you visit in person, though mail orders currently face delays of four to six weeks due to high demand from REAL ID requirements. Pima County serves as Arizona's second largest county and maintains comprehensive vital records services for all residents.

Pima County Vital Records Offices

Pima County gives residents two ways to get death records in person. You can pick the spot that works best for where you live or work. Both sites handle the same tasks and charge the same fees. The main office is at the Abrams Public Health Center. It sits at 3950 South Country Club Road near downtown Tucson. This location serves the central and southern parts of the metro area. The second site is the Northwest Service Center at 1010 West Miracle Mile, which opened to help people who live in the northern and western parts of Pima County.

Each location has different hours, so plan your visit based on when they are open. The Abrams Public Health Center operates Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8 in the morning until 3:30 in the afternoon. The Northwest Service Center is open only on Tuesday and Thursday from 8:15 in the morning to 4:15 in the afternoon. Both locations close from 1 to 2 each day for lunch. No walk-in service happens during the lunch hour at either site in Pima County.

Staff at both offices can help you fill out forms if you need help. They check your ID and proof of relationship to make sure you qualify under Arizona law. Most people who visit in person can get their death certificate the same day if the record is in the system. This is much faster than mail orders, which can take a month or more due to the high number of birth certificate requests for REAL ID compliance.

For questions or to check if a record is available, call the main vital records phone line at 520-724-7932. You can also send an email to pchd.vitalrecords@pima.gov. The Pima County Vital Records website has forms you can print ahead of time to save time when you visit in Pima County.

Get Death Certificates in Pima County

Two main ways exist to request a death certificate in Pima County. You can go in person or you can mail your request. In-person visits usually give you same day results. Just bring your ID and proof you are allowed to get the record. Fill out the form at the office or print it from the county website before you go. Pay the $20 fee and wait while staff process your request.

Mail orders take much longer right now. The vital records office warns that processing time for mail requests runs four to six weeks. This delay comes from the large number of birth certificate requests for REAL ID. The office handles requests in the order they arrive. If you mail your request, send a completed application form, a copy of your valid ID, proof of your relationship to the deceased, and a money order or check for $20 per copy. Mail everything to Pima County Vital Records at 3950 South Country Club Road, Tucson, AZ. Do not send cash through the mail.

For faster service when you cannot visit in person, use VitalChek to order online. VitalChek is an authorized service that works with Arizona vital records offices. They charge extra fees for processing and shipping, but you can get your death certificate in a few days instead of waiting weeks. This option works well if you live far from Pima County or need the record fast for legal or financial matters.

Note: All death certificates in Arizona require proof of eligibility before they can be issued.

Eligible Requesters for Death Records

Arizona restricts who can request death records. The state is a closed record state for vital records like death certificates. You must be at least 18 years old to apply. Beyond that, you need to show a legal connection to the deceased person. Family members have the easiest path. Spouses, parents, adult children, brothers, sisters, grandparents, and grandchildren can all request death certificates if they prove the relationship with official documents in Pima County.

Proof of relationship usually means bringing a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or court document that shows your name and the name of the deceased. Just knowing the person is not enough. The vital records staff must see paper proof before they release a certified copy. This rule protects privacy and prevents identity theft or fraud.

Other groups besides family can also get death records. Attorneys who represent the estate need death certificates for probate and legal work. Funeral directors get copies as part of their professional duties. Insurance companies and banks can request death records if the deceased had a policy or account with them. Government agencies at the city, county, state, or federal level can get death records for official purposes. Genealogists can access old records more than 50 years old through the state genealogy database in Pima County.

The Pima County Vital Records FAQ page answers common questions about who qualifies and what documents you need. Read through this before you apply to make sure you bring the right papers with you to Pima County.

If you do not fit into one of the categories listed above, you may still get a death certificate with a letter of authorization. Ask an eligible family member to write a letter saying you have permission to get the record on their behalf. The letter must be signed and include a copy of the family member's ID. Bring this letter with you when you apply for the death record in Pima County.

Death Certificate Fees

Each certified death certificate costs $20 in Pima County. This fee covers one copy. If you need five copies, you pay $100. There is no bulk discount. The $20 fee includes the state surcharge that goes into a special fund under Arizona law. Corrections to a death certificate cost more. The fee for amendments is $30 per corrected copy.

Payment methods depend on how you submit your request. For in-person visits, you can pay with cash, credit card, debit card, check, or money order. For mail orders, send a check or money order made out to Pima County. Do not send cash. Credit card payments by mail are not accepted. If you use VitalChek for online orders, you pay by credit or debit card through their secure website. VitalChek adds their own service fees on top of the county's $20 charge.

The office does not give refunds if a record cannot be found. If you apply for a death certificate and the record does not exist in the database, you lose your $20 fee. Make sure you have the correct name, date of death, and place of death before you pay. Call the vital records office at 520-724-7932 to verify the record exists if you are not sure.

How Long It Takes

Same day service is the norm for walk-in requests at both Pima County locations. Most people leave with their death certificate in hand if the record is complete and in the system. Some cases take longer if the death was recent or if the medical examiner has not yet signed off. Deaths that occurred within the last 30 to 90 days may not be fully entered into the state database yet.

Mail orders face a different timeline. Current processing time runs four to six weeks from when the office receives your complete application. This long delay is due to high volume from REAL ID requirements. Many people need birth certificates to get the new federal ID cards, and those requests slow down the whole system. The vital records office handles all requests in the order they arrive, so your death certificate request waits in line behind all the birth certificate orders that came in before yours in Pima County.

VitalChek offers the fastest service for people who cannot visit in person. Online orders through VitalChek usually arrive within three to five business days. You pay extra for this speed. VitalChek charges service fees and shipping fees on top of the county's base $20 cost. If you need a death certificate right away for a funeral, insurance claim, or legal filing, the extra cost may be worth it.

Note: Call ahead to check if a recent death record is available before making the trip to the office.

Arizona State Vital Records

Pima County vital records staff can issue death certificates for any Arizona death, not just deaths in Pima County. They pull records from a statewide database. This means you can get a Maricopa County death certificate at the Pima County office if you live in Tucson. The fee and process are the same no matter where in Arizona the death took place.

For very old deaths or special cases, you may need to contact the state office directly. The Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Vital Records keeps all state death records from 1903 to the present. Some records go back even further to the 1870s. The state office is in Phoenix at 150 North 18th Avenue, Suite 120. You can call them at 602-364-1300 or mail requests to PO Box 6018, Phoenix, AZ 85005.

The state office does not offer walk-in service. All requests must be made by mail or through VitalChek. Processing time is about one to two weeks for mail orders. The state charges the same $20 fee per certified copy. If you need a death certificate for genealogy research and the death was more than 50 years ago, check the Arizona Genealogy Record Search website. You can view and download uncertified copies for free if the record falls within the genealogy time frame.

Arizona Death Record Laws

State law governs how death certificates work in Pima County. The Arizona Revised Statutes set the rules for filing, registering, and releasing death records. Under ARS 36-325, funeral homes must file death certificates within seven days of taking possession of the body. The county registrar then has 72 hours to register the death if all information is complete. Once registered, the death certificate goes into the state database and becomes available for certified copies.

ARS 36-342 explains who can get death records and who cannot. This law makes Arizona a closed record state for vital records. County and state vital records staff cannot show death certificates to the public or release copies except to eligible people. Breaking this rule can lead to penalties for the staff member. The law protects the privacy of families and prevents misuse of personal information in Pima County.

Fees are set under ARS 36-341. This statute gives the state director and each county the power to charge for searches, copies, and amendments. The law requires an extra one dollar surcharge on all death certificates. This money goes to a special state fund. Counties can set their own fees on top of the state minimum. Pima County charges $20 per certified copy and $30 for corrections, which aligns with most other Arizona counties.

ARS 36-301 defines key terms like certificate, certified copy, and vital record. The statute also covers fetal death and stillbirth records, which have different rules than regular death certificates. If you need one of these special records, contact the vital records office for guidance on the application process in Pima County.

Other Vital Records Services

The Pima County Vital Records office handles more than just death certificates. You can also get birth certificates at both locations. The fee is $20 per certified birth certificate, the same as for death records. If you need both types of documents, you can request them during the same visit. Fill out a separate form for each type of record.

Corrections and amendments are available for death certificates that have errors. The fee is $30 for the first corrected copy. You must provide proof of the correct information. This might include hospital records, court documents, or other official papers. The vital records staff review each correction request to make sure it meets state requirements. Some changes require approval from the state vital records office in Phoenix, which can add time to the process in Pima County.

For deaths that involved the medical examiner, you may need to wait before the death certificate becomes available. The medical examiner must determine the cause and manner of death before signing the certificate. This can take weeks or even months in complex cases. Call the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office if you have questions about a case that is still under investigation.

Cities in Pima County

Pima County includes several cities and towns. Tucson is the county seat and the largest city. Other places include Oro Valley, Marana, and Sahuarita. All residents of these cities use the Pima County Vital Records offices to get death certificates. Cities in Arizona do not issue vital records. They refer requests to the county or state level.

The county has two service locations to make it easier for people across the metro area. If you live in northern Tucson, Oro Valley, or Marana, the Northwest Service Center on Miracle Mile is closest. If you live in central, southern, or eastern parts of the county, the Abrams Public Health Center on Country Club Road is your best bet.

Adjacent Counties

Pima County shares borders with several other counties. If you are not sure which county a death occurred in, check with the vital records office before you request the record. The statewide database lets any county office search for any Arizona death, so you can get help even if you visit the wrong county office.